I ROBOT

I Robot is quite different from Tales Of Mystery And Imagination. The typical formula that the Alan Parsons Project would follow on most of their 80's albums had not yet been fully established; the Project was still at this point a band that was somewhat exiting and not too predictable. There are some Disco sounds on this album that put me off on the first couple of listens. Particularly, the I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You track is one of the most horrible creations. However, if you can get past this there is actually a lot to enjoy on this album.

The bass guitar sound is better here than on any other Alan Parsons Project album that I've heard. Also the electric lead guitar sounds good when it is present (which is not a lot). The drums are always the biggest problem with any Alan Parsons Project album; they sound a bit too stale and a bit robotic (to fit the theme of the album maybe?). The keyboards are rather stale too sometimes come off as a bit cold and patterned, but not as much as on most of the Project's 80's albums.

Acoustic guitar, choirs and orchestra are used on some tracks to great effect, I think. The contrast between these acoustic, more organic and genuine sounds and the more artificial sounds of the keyboards and drums is quite interesting and the balance and integration between them is very successful.

The whole thing is of course very well produced as always with Parsons (after all, he is a producer first and foremost). The most important factor in any kind of music is, of course, to have good songs and the songs here are all well-written and catchy (sometimes too catchy for my taste though).

There are several invited guest vocalists on different tracks, but surprisingly this does not give this album a disjointed feel (like almost all other Alan Parsons Project albums including Tales Of Mystery And Imagination). The concept of this album is a bit silly but it does not distract too much.

This is actually one of the better albums by the Alan Parsons Project.

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